ADA accessible kayak, canoe launch set up in Blackwell Forest Preserve
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has installed an ADA-accessible kayak and canoe launch at Silver Lake in the Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville.
The ceremony celebrates the opening
Forest Preserve District officials celebrate the opening of a new launch. photo courtesy of Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
The district unveiled the addition at a ceremony on Saturday. The new launch is the first permanent of its kind in the district.
“We are excited to provide a permanent launch that allows people of all ages and abilities to launch a kayak unaided, making it easier for everyone to enjoy our reserves,” said DuPage Forest Preserve District Chairman, Daniel Hebreard, in a press release.
About the launch
A concrete path and sidewalk lead from a nearby parking lot to the launch, which features a boat launch and transfer platform with handrails. Visitors can obtain a permit to use their own watercraft at the boat launch, or kayaks and canoes can be rented on site.
Kayaking enthusiast Judy Strassenburg of Wheaton said she was thrilled with the new addition, as she struggles to get in and out of a kayak.
“The new launch makes it a much more enjoyable experience,” said Strassenburg, 66. “Kayaking is my favorite thing to do right now.”
The project was completed last winter at a cost of $75,650, with $15,000 in private donations contributed by the Friends of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District.
Rentals available
Kayak rentals at the Silver Lake boat launch in Blackwell are $15 per hour, while canoe and tandem kayak rentals are offered for $18 per hour. District hours for rentals are 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekends through Sept. 25, as well as Memorial Day and Labor Day. Weekday hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from May 31 to September 2. The last rentals of the day are at 5:30 p.m.
Reporting by Kim Pirc of Naperville News 17.
photo courtesy of Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
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